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Following the advice of the Afghan tribal locals, to avoid running into temporary checkpoints set up by the U.S. military and causing unnecessary trouble, everyone was told to disguise themselves as ordinary Afghan civilians heading for a pilgrimage to Mecca, before making their way toward the Pakistani border.
So everyone put on traditional Arab robes, covering their bodies with only their eyes visible. Their weapons were hidden beneath the loose clothing. Once everything was ready, they set off. Colonel Hank Han and the Dragonforce Battalion members escorted the donkey cart carrying Black Eye, while Shawn Young and the unconscious Fiona Tang rode on another cart. Major Akram led the way with a few Afghan locals.
The group looked just like ordinary Afghans heading to market, making their way toward the Pakistani border hundreds of kilometers away. To avoid U.S. patrols and those ever-present drones, they moved through the mountains whenever possible, trekking for two days through the rugged Afghan terrain. Along the way, they encountered several groups of Islamic Jihad fighters, but thanks to the local Afghan guides, things stayed peaceful, and they even received some food from the fighters.
At night, when no one was watching, Shawn Young slipped into the 'Ascendant Vessel' and fetched a Dragonsoul Herb to revive Fiona Tang. But her energy was badly depleted, and while the herb was miraculous, it couldn't restore her inner strength for cultivation. She was still pretty weak and needed time to recover.
Still, Fiona Tang finally woke up. She and Shawn Young sat together in a donkey cart at the back of the convoy. Since she hadn’t recovered her vitality, Fiona Tang didn’t talk much. Shawn Young pulled her into his arms, saying the road was bumpy and she’d be more comfortable like this. Fiona Tang’s heart raced at first, but seeing Shawn’s sincere attitude—and with her own complicated feelings for him—she didn’t refuse.
So, all along the way, Fiona Tang nestled in Shawn Young’s arms. It was her first time being held by a young man, and the feeling was strange—her face flushed and heart pounded, yet she felt warm and cherished. Even when Shawn gently stroked her hair, it didn’t feel awkward; she quietly rested in his embrace, sometimes wishing the journey would last even longer—
By noon on the third day, Major Akram reminded Colonel Hank Han and the others that there were still about a hundred kilometers to go. By midday tomorrow, they should reach Pakistani territory. But everyone needed to stay extra cautious—the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan was complicated and chaotic.
Many 'Jihadists' fighting against the Americans often operated in the border areas, using the tricky terrain and border loopholes to attack U.S. forces. These fighters came from across the Middle East—local Afghan militants, anti-American forces from Iraq, Pakistanis, and even 'trainee special forces' from Iran. Their goals and mindsets varied, but they all had one thing in common: anti-American sentiment! And, as the Americans would say, a shared identity—'terrorists.'
To avoid drawing attention at the border, Major Akram suggested Shawn Young pretend to be the husband of the sickly Fiona Tang. Shawn would act mute, and Fiona Tang would play the invalid. The rest was up to Major Akram. If the donkey convoy made it safely to the Pakistani border, it would be his turf—and that meant relative safety.
After another dozen kilometers, near afternoon, the group suddenly heard intense gunfire echoing from a treacherous mountain valley ahead. Looking over, they saw streams of firepower shooting into the sky—like weaving serpents of flame. Even from nearly ten kilometers away, the flashes and explosions were clearly visible. It looked like the battle over there was only getting fiercer.
Then, from the distant horizon, came the sound of airplane engines. Colonel Hank Han quickly raised his military binoculars and spotted a bizarre, tan-colored aircraft—huge, with rotors at both ends—zipping back and forth in the valley. Fire burst from its sides and belly, unleashing wild barrages on the valley’s anti-aircraft positions.
Under the fierce firepower of that strange aircraft, the valley’s anti-aircraft guns were quickly suppressed. The tiltrotor plane didn’t leave, though—instead, it hovered at the entrance to the valley like a helicopter. Its hatch opened, and two odd pieces of metal equipment were lowered inside. The drop was so fast that Colonel Hank Han couldn’t see what they were before they hit the valley floor.
"Uh—this looks like the U.S. Air Force’s newest V-22 Osprey! They say it’s not just packing serious firepower, but it can take off vertically, hover, and cruise at high speed. Its speed, altitude, and efficiency blow regular combat helicopters out of the water! Looks like that’s the real deal!" Fiona Tang stepped up, holding her own military binoculars.
"Uh—should be the V-22 Osprey, but that big plane is weird enough. What it dropped into the valley looks even stranger! Could it be some kind of U.S. chemical weapon of mass destruction?!" Colonel Hank Han muttered.
At the mention of chemical weapons, everyone tensed up. Major Akram and the Dragonforce Battalion members instinctively gripped the weapons hidden inside their robes. But they knew—if a chemical weapon of mass destruction was dropped and started spreading, without special suits and gas masks, there’d be nothing they could do!